Sebastian Vettel became one of Formula One’s all-time greats in Brazil

Barely four corners into the Brazilian Grand Prix it looked like the world had been turned upside down. The championship leader was pointing backwards, there were scuff marks on his car, and
Fernando Alonso was riding high in his Ferrari.

Sebastian Vettel won his third successive drivers’ championship at the weekend (Picture: Getty)

At this point, you might expect Sebastian Vettel to burst into tears. Instead, he did what all great champions do: triumph in the face of adversity. The fact he finished sixth to clinch the title was remarkable.

Alonso’s second place in Sao Paulo was his 13th podium of the season. He and Ferrari were blameless for their two DNFs. It was a miraculous campaign, but Red Bull were just too strong.

It looked bleak for Vettel when his RB8 retired from the Italian Grand Prix. It seems funny to use the word ‘comeback’ when you’re talking about a three-times successive champion, but he scored more in the final seven races [141 points] than he did in the previous 13 rounds [140 points].

After the race, the sport’s youngest ever triple world champion and his Red Bull crew cranked up We Are The Champions in their garage so loud you couldn’t hear the podium ceremony.

That will have needled Alonso but at least he did not gift Vettel the title like in Abu Dhabi in 2010.

The race was breathless, not just from where Vettel was sat. At one point it looked as if Nico Hulkenberg and Force India would win their first grand prix. I really rate Hulkenberg, so it was doubly galling when he lost his car under braking for Turn One and clipped Lewis Hamilton . If either of those guys had won it would have been huge.

On the eve of his son’s last race for McLaren, Anthony Hamilton gave me a cigar and promised we’d have a smoke if [actually he said ‘when’] Lewis won. I guess I’ll keep it until Lewis wins for Mercedes but we don’t know how long that will be.

No doubt McLaren wanted a one-two, but Jenson Button’s triumph in chaotic conditions tells them they don’t need Lewis, and will reassure Button he has a fantastic shot at a second title in 2013.